I lift up my eyes to the hills–where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
How do you explain peace? Is it best described as a stillness or calming of a mighty storm? Or is it more like the gentleness of the beast as it reclines with the lamb? Maybe it could be described best in the quiet morning hours of a springtime sunrise overlooking the reflection of the mighty mountains on the surface of an outstretched lake. More difficult is defining it in a person — like the person of Christ. We like to see peace to know what it’s like. It becomes something ever so different when we taste it for ourselves.
But while Christ, in His person demonstrated a more scandalous sense of peace, He was and still is, the Prince of Peace! And this peace, unlike the calm sea or the comfort of beasts or even the stillness of the morning — is actually living within me! But though my heart toils and wrenches in the anguish of pain and grief, He offers peace and rest in the comfort of His arms in every place, every corner, every moment of my life.
Even the gardener, in the midst of his pain, hurt and grief, in great sorrow still sowed the land with seed. With peace and joy, not without tears, he continued in his day to bring the first fruits of the season. I can only imagine the number of seeds that were watered by the tears that drenched the soil under his knees. But what he brought home were sheaves of songs of joy!
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5-6
In the peace that only He can give, there is unmeasurable comfort. When every ounce of myself can no longer carry on, I remember, my strength comes from the Prince of Peace. This is where my help comes from!
Lord Jesus, I know you are the Maker of heaven and earth! When I think of that alone I am overwhelmed with your power, your creativity and humbled by your love for me — merely a dot in the vast expanse of your creation. Yet, though what appears to be so small, you have written a promise to be my Peace, my Joy, my Help, my Rock! Oh, how much you must love me! There are days when I feel I cannot move for the weight of this world upon me is so heavy. But in you the burdens of my circumstances become light and my wondering is sealed. You are more than I have ever imagined and your greatness is beyond my human ability to understand. Thank you for helping me through my pain!
In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. Psalm 118:5-7